Line Hunters

8. History of the Lines

Ian headed back to his room, but instead of going to the bed, he went out the balcony and leaned forward on the railing. Closing his eyes, Ian exhaled, and unknown to him, a light green smoke escaped his mouth and evaporated. Ian opened his eyes, staring at the bright, full moon. He wondered who else was looking at the moon at this moment and if the blindfolded woman was looking at it too. A little more than two years have passed since Ian left her side, and since then, there had been no communication between the two. It was like the woman had disappeared. In a way, Ian understood she didn't want to be found.

So when he woke up and found himself lying on a bed in a foreign room and a man, woman, a boy, and another woman, chatting downstairs and looking at him expectedly, Ian felt nothing. Mr. and Mrs. Tailight wanted another child but were unable to conceive one, so when they learned about Ian's situation—which Ian learned was someone else finding him alone in a cabin and he could recollect nothing, not even the note on him asking for someone to take him in—the couple were eager to accept Ian as one of their own, charmed by his calmness yet concerned about his unresponsiveness. Weeks after Ian became part of the Tailight family, he began to collect fragments of what happened before he was found in that cabin.

He also remembered a promise he made to her. It happened during late autumn, and he was practicing wielding a sword while the woman sat on the porch.

Ian... The woman was in deep thought while watching the boy's weak and slow movements.

The day Ian defeated the moonlight infused dragons, the woman saw a glimpse of his identity and untouchable power. For a moment, Ian was radiating, and his eyes were clear and light, no longer the warm brown eyes, and his whole self was like the moon, enthralling and still. And in that brief moment, he felt distant.

"Your recovery is too slow," the woman said.

The boy stopped and looked at her.

"Ian, I know you're stronger than you look," the woman said. "Whoever hurt you may be the reason why you're so weak. I want you to take the Line Hunter Trial."

Ian's training paused and he sat down next to her as the woman finally explained the world to him.

"There are lines everywhere throughout the world, even inside humans and animals, and these lines are invisible to ordinary human eyes. There are a variety of lines that represent many different things; there are so many lines it makes it impossible to learn the meanings of each. Lines show the three pillar strengths, it shows one's personality and it leads to something, which is where the idea of fate and destiny comes from. If two people are meant to be together, the line will remain through the two and fade if the love becomes solid or starts fading. If fate changes, then the line that was supposed to lead them to their fate vanishes, and a new one emerges, which can be good or bad.

However, these lines were never to exist in the first place. They influence our emotions, fates, reasoning, and the influence exists because of the dragons. Humans and dragons once lived in harmony until the conflict between the two species became too much. Dragons believed humans were consuming all the resources and didn't see them worthy to live on this planet, and it was already difficult enough for humans who had almost no chance against dragons, but then dragons learned on how to transform into humans. The positive side to this is humans and animals received some of the dragons' powers during the dragons' sudden release of powers and efforts to turn humans into dragons.

Over centuries, the lines from dragons consumed earth. Eventually, a young man named Avi Lavoye, the only human known to have the ability to see the lines, developed the Line Hunter Trial so he could teach others how to kill the dragons and protect lines that are sometimes their source of power."

"If hunters protect the lines, why are they called Line Hunters?" Ian asked.

"Killing the dragons is important because the lines will eventually disappear, but getting rid of evil lines is just as important. Originally, Line Hunters were called Dragon Slayers. So many hunters focus on the dragons that they forget about the lines, which spread and infect the other lines. If you get out, Ian, you'll see how the lines caused damage to the good ones, and how easily goodness gets infected.

Avi Lavoye was also the one to control the power inside us: our spiritual power. With his teachings, our powers became easier to tap into and discover. For many centuries, he was known to be the strongest, wielding great power, but now, a new generation has the title of the strongest, and they're called the Risers."

"They must be strong enough to stop all of them," Ian said.

"Maybe." The woman looked away, staring at the hill. "Since the day I found you, dragons have actively attacked, and naturally, the Risers and other Line Hunters responded. This led to a big fight, and the Risers managed to temporarily weaken and seal most dragons within a range in their realm. However... The Risers also faced great damage, or at least that's what people believe. After the battle, the Risers disappeared, never seen or heard of again to this day." The woman looked back at Ian. "The dragons are reappearing, and for some reason, they've become stronger."

"No one else can stop them?"

"The Risers are this world's only hope."

And you. The woman kept that part to herself. "Ian, I want you to take and pass the exam because it'll make finding the Risers easier."

"Why will it make the mission easier?"

"Line Hunters have more access to everything related to lines, the hunters and Predators. Becoming one will also mean more chances for you to encounter Predators and grow in strength. You must not die."

"I won't."

"I won't."

Even if Ian hadn't made that promise, the boy truly didn't want to die. There were so many things to learn and he had only learned a small portion. Ian had yet to try all sorts of food, find the joy people found during holiday parties, understand why someone would cry over a joke and why people loved mentioning their insecurities. Ian had yet to feel. He understood a little bit of humanity and feelings, but there was no 'spark' or 'liveliness' in him.

Recalling the promise, Ian also thought about their departure. He thought it was sudden. A strong dragon had attacked the village where the woman usually got her supplies, and it happened so she was there when the village was attacked. Ian remembered waiting along with Arvak, and the faint disturbance in his heart as they continued to wait, wait too long. Then Arvak went crazy, running away, and Ian felt the urge to go after him but remained seated. Before the Madam had left, she told him to remain here and wait for her return.

Ian waited a week for the woman to come back. Arvak hadn't returned either. Although Ian had always eaten meals with the woman, he never understood eating was essential, and after devouring the moonlight from the Predators, he had been full so he didn't eat much. Ian went a week without eating and eventually fainted.

When his consciousness returned, Ian was with his adopted family.